Synthesis of CuO Wires from Layered Organic-Inorganic Hybrids

Abstract

Copper oxide (CuO) is a narrow band-gap semiconducting oxide that has been widely studied in electrochemical cells, in photothermal and photoconductive materials, and as a heterogeneous catalyst. Various techniques have been used to fabricate CuO nanostructures. One-dimensional (1D) CuO can be obtained through thermal treatment by using the precursors Cu(OH)2 or Cu2(OH)2CO3 as a sacrificial template. Layered organic-inorganic hybrids are characterized by strong intralayer covalent or ionic bonding in an inorganic frame, and weak interlayer interactions such as van der Waals forces between organic molecules. Most layered organic-inorganic hybrid materials fabricated to date were obtained by intercalation of organic molecules into the inorganic layer. In this work, we report the preparation of CuO from the layered organic-inorganic hybrid, Cu2(OH)3(C12H25SO4). CuO wires are formed by a self-aggregation of nanoparticles. The morphologies of the aggregated CuO products are analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.